City digitizes development planning applications

Streamlined application process moves us towards more homes, faster

Guelph, Ont., September 8, 2026 – Earlier this year development planning applications were added to the Guelph Permit and Application System (GPAS), digitizing a vital part of the work required for building new homes. Supported by the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), this project involved the configuration and rollout of a planning-specific process in AMANDA (now known as Granicus’ Permitting, Compliance & Licensing tool). The newly digitized process brings benefits for both applicants and City staff, including

easy status tracking so developers can quickly see where their planning applications are in the workflow,
improved data collection to help identify and address process bottlenecks, and
better filesystems that eliminate duplicate documents and make for simpler project transfers between staff.

This HAF-enabled work aligns directly with the efforts of Ontario’s Big City Mayors to expand infrastructure and support affordable housing, notably the adoption digital tools for development applications.
“This is yet another showcase of how the City consistently explores every avenue for improving our services and meeting housing demand,” says Mayor Cam Guthrie. “Digitizing applications helps move them through the process faster, with more visibility for everyone involved. Less guesswork means quicker decisions and, in the end, more homes, faster.

“Vision33 is proud to have partnered with the City of Guelph on this important modernization initiative,” agrees Allison Locke, General Manager of eGovernment with Vision33 Canada. “By streamlining development approval processes and improving access to information for both City staff and applicants, the project creates a stronger digital foundation to support efficient service delivery and Guelph’s continued housing growth.”

City staff have connected with developers active in the community to onboard them into the new digital system. New developers looking to start a project in Guelph can find all the necessary information on the City’s development applications webpage.